“Crystal”
brings Cirque du Soleil to the ice with artistry and an engaging story, Matthew J. Palm writes.
“Crystal,” Cirque du Soleil’s latest touring show, is definitely different than the Canadian circus-arts company’s usual fare. The Montreal-based company proudly touts “Crystal” as its first show on ice, which certainly sets it apart from say, “La Nouba,” the company’s long-running show at Walt Disney World.
But in most every way, “Crystal” has all the hallmarks of a Cirque show that fans have come to expect. And that’s all for the good. Inventive lighting, eye-popping costumes, striking choreography and, of course, the gasp-worthy “did they just do that?” aerial, strength and balance work of the circus performers.
The key aspect where “Crystal” truly differs from the best of Cirque’s offerings is that is doesn’t seem to trust its audience to keep up with the show’s concept. Recorded narration fills the Amway Center, letting us know what the feats we are about to see represent. And I just wanted to yell back, “Yes, we get it. Your artistry is telling the story.”
About that story: It’s an engrossing one. A young woman, the titular Crystal, doesn’t fit in. Her bland family is mesmerized by television. Unlike Crystal, COMMENTARY her classmates all dress in cotton-candy pastels, beautifully designed by Marie Chantale Vaillancourt.
So when Crystal’s world begins cracking — and she plunges through the ice, we can take that literally or figuratively. Then her inner self lets loose her imagination, and the real fun begins.
The voiceovers detract from the show’s charm, but “Crystal” excels at intertwining the specialty acts with the skating. It never feels as though the show stops to accommodate the circus; instead, the circus blends seamlessly with the work on the ice. The transitions, from rink to air add to the overall beauty. And a lovely ice dancing sequence serves to remind how dancing, skating and aerial acrobatics all offer the sensation of flying.
The “flying” acts offer the greatest visual thrills: A duo on trapeze perform shocking grabs and drops, an aerial straps and skating routine has an epic romantic sweep, Crystal swings on a trapeze with jawdropping twists, flips and spins.
Pleasure is also found on the ground: The synchronized movements of officious businessmen and women, the rhythmic movements of a mechanical typing pool, the pratfalls of the clown (turns out clowns are funnier on ice).
One other departure for Cirque du Soleil: the brilliant original music is mixed with a few pop tunes. The combination works well — much like this beautiful pairing of ice and air.